Non-skid floor mat design

ABSTRACT

A non-skid floor mat for use in a golf car is provided to enable traction with one of a hard spike and a soft spike of a golf shoe. The non-skid floor mat includes a sheet of elastomeric material and nibs in the wall area of the mat. The nibs are sufficiently spaced from one another to enable one of direct contact of the hard spike with the sheet and contact of the soft spike with both the nibs and the sheet. Preferably, the nibs have a height between 0.12 and 0.19 inches, and are offset from one another by a center to center distance of between 0.5 and 0.8 inches.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to floor mats and moreparticularly to a non-skid floor mat design for use in a golf car.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Traditionally, the passenger compartment of a golf car includes afloor mat designed to provide a comfortable non-skid surface of thefloor for occupants wearing hard spiked golf shoes (steel, ceramic,etc.). Typical designs include a moderately hard rubber compound with arough surface texture similar to indoor/outdoor carpeting. The majorityof the non-skid function results from the hard spikes of the golf shoesembedding into the mat material. Thus, the properties of the materialare focused on wear resistance to provide adequate service life of themat. The surface texture of traditional mats must remain shallow topreclude a tripping hazard with aggressive hard spikes. The shallowsurface texture also limits the entrapment of dirt in the mat surface,facilitating easy cleaning.

[0003] In recent years, there has been a dramatic shift from hard spikedgolf shoes to shoes incorporating soft spikes. Soft spikes are typicallymade from a plastic compound, are significantly more pliable and lessabusive than hard spikes. The benefit of soft spikes to a courseoperator is reduced damage to both the playing surface, putting greensin particular, and the course facilities, floors, steps, sidewalks andthe like. The benefits of soft spikes to the golfer include comfortablewalking and more consistent putting as a result of the reduced damage tothe putting greens.

[0004] The shift to using soft spiked golf shoes has created aheightened need for the floor mat of the golf car to provide an improvednon-skid surface. Additionally, the plastics from which the soft spikesare molded, are typically slippery when contacting the floor matmaterial, especially when wet. Further, hard spikes and soft spikes areused contemporaneously, as not all players have switched to soft spikes.Thus, the floor mat must provide additional non-skid capability for softspikes, without being overly aggressive for hard spikes, while stillproviding adequate service life and cleaning characteristics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Accordingly, the present invention provides a non-skid floor matfor use in a golf car to enable traction with one of a hard spike and asoft spike of a golf shoe. The non-skid floor mat includes a sheethaving a first section and a second section, and a plurality of nibsprotruding from the second section. The nibs are sufficiently spacedfrom one another to enable one of direct contact of the hard spike withthe sheet and contact of the soft spike with both the nibs and thesheet. Optionally, either the first or second section can include atextured surface. The textured surface of the second section liesbetween each of the plurality of nibs.

[0006] The nibs have a height within the range of 0.12 to 0.19 inchesand are separated by a center-to-center distance of at least 0.5 inches.

[0007] Further, the floor mat is comprised of an elastomeric material.

[0008] Further areas of applicability of the present invention willbecome apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. Itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention,are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a passenger compartment of a golfcar including a non-skid floor mat in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the non-skid floor mat;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the non-skid floor mat alongline 3-3 of FIG. 2;

[0013]FIG. 3A is a detailed view of a portion of the cross-section ofFIG. 3;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a typical soft spike;

[0015]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of a typical soft spikeengaging the non-skid floor mat; and

[0016]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a typical soft spike engaging thenon-skid floor mat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] The following description of the preferred embodiment is merelyexemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

[0018] Referencing FIG. 1, a passenger compartment 10 of a golf car 12is shown. The passenger compartment 10 includes a seat 14, a floor 16,and a dash panel 18, steering wheel 20, a brake pedal 22, and anaccelerator pedal 24. A non-skid floor mat 30, designed in accordancewith the principles of the present invention, covers the floor 16 of thepassenger compartment 10.

[0019] With particular reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 3A, the non-skidfloor mat 30 will be discussed in detail. The non-skid floor mat 30 isformed of an elastomeric material 32 having an outer perimeter 34 shapedto conform with the floor 16 of the passenger compartment 10. The floormate 30 has the advantages of which are discussed in further detailherein below, but may also be formed of alternate materials. Thenon-skid floor mat 30 may include a steering wheel aperture 36, a brakepedal aperture 38, and an accelerator pedal aperture 40. A series ofattachment apertures 42 are positioned about the perimeter 34 forenabling fixed attachment of the non-skid floor mat 30 to the floor 16.

[0020] The non-skid floor mat 30 further includes a first section 44having a flat surface 46 and a second section 48 having a flat surface50 with a plurality of protrusions, or nibs 52, extending upwardtherefrom. It is anticipated, however, that the flat surfaces 46, 50 aretextured of either or both of the first and second sections 44, 48 maybe rough, or otherwise textured. As best seen in FIG. 3A, the nibs 52are generally semi-spherical in form with a sufficient radius. However,it is anticipated that the nibs 52 may take any one of a number of formsincluding, but not limited to, conical, frusto-conical, pyramid,truncated, cylindrical and the like at the bottom. As discussed infurther detail below, each nib 52 is formed to fit within recesses of asoft spike.

[0021] With particular reference to FIGS. 4 through 6, a typical softspike 60 of a golf shoe is shown engaging the nibs 52 of the non-skidfloor mat 30. Soft spike 60 described herein is one of a number of softspike configurations known in the art. The soft spike 60 generallyincludes a conical body 62 having a threaded post 64 extending upwardtherefrom, for threaded attachment with a golf shoe sole 66. A series ofribs 68 extend downward from a conical face 70 of the soft spike 60,thereby forming recesses 72. As the soft spike 60 contacts the non-skidfloor mat 30, the nibs 52 are received into the recesses 72 of the softspike 60, as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, and as shown in phantom in FIG. 4.In this manner, the non-skid floor mat 30 provides traction for the softspikes 60, promoting passenger safety and comfort. It should further benoted that application of sufficient downward force through the softspike 60 (e.g. when passenger is standing) enables the ribs 68 tocontact the flat surface 50 between the nibs 52 concurrent to the nibs52 engaging the recesses 72. In this manner, improved traction isprovided.

[0022] As discussed briefly above, the nibs 52 are preferablysemi-spherical in form for efficiently fitting within the recesses 72.However, it is anticipated that other forms of the nibs 52 would sufficeto fit within the recesses 72 for providing traction. For example, asshown in FIG. 6, partially frusto-conical nibs 52 are one possibility.More importantly, however, the size and spacing of the nibs 52 must beappropriate for enabling sufficient engagement between the nibs 52 andsoft spike 60, provide clearance to prevent a tripping hazard, andproviding clearance for cleanability. Additionally, spacing of the nibs52 must be appropriate to enable hard spikes (not shown) to contact theflat surface 50. In this manner, the non-skid floor mat 30 providestraction for both hard spike and soft spike golf shoes.

[0023] To that end, the nibs 52 have a center-to center distance nogreater than 0.80 inches. The center-to-center distance ensures that atleast two nibs 52, and optionally four nibs 52, engage the recesses 72of the soft spike 60. Additionally, the center-to-center distanceensures that a hard spike may pass between the nibs 52 for contactingthe flat surface 50, as well as enabling easy cleaning of the non-skidfloor mat 30. For example, if the nibs 52 were positioned too closetogether it would be difficult to remove dirt and debris depositedtherebetween.

[0024] Further, the nibs 52 preferably have a height within the range of0.12 to 0.19 inches. This height range ensures that there is adequateengagement between the soft spike recesses 72 and the nibs 52. If thenibs 52 are too low, the non-skid floor mat 30 would fail to provideadequate traction. On the other hand, if the nibs 52 are too high, asoft spike may not move smoothly over the enon0skid floor mater 30.Similarly to the center-to-center distance, the height of the nibs 52influences the cleanability of the non-skid floor mat 30. If the nibs 52are too high, removal of dirt and debris from between the nibs 52 ishindered. Both the height and spacing of the nibs 52 are limited toprevent grabbing of the passenger's golf shoe.

[0025] As mentioned above, the non-skid floor mat 30 is formed using anelastomer component. The elastomeric material 32 provides toughness andwear resistance to extend the service life of the non-skid floor mat 30.As an elastomer, the non-skid floor mat 30 is resilient and deformablefor enabling improved traction. In the case of a hard spike, the tip ofthe hard spike may engage the flat surface 50 between the nibs, therebygripping the non-skid floor mat 30 to provide traction for thepassenger. If, however, the hard spike contacts a nib 52, the hard spikecan similarly project into the nib 52, providing traction regardless ofwhether direct contact with the flat surface 50 is achieved. With regardto a typical soft spike 60, as the recesses 72 engage the nibs 52, thenibs 52 are able to slightly deform under the applied force of thepassenger, thereby increasing the contact surface between the softspikes 60 and the nibs 52, thus increasing the traction. Additionally,nib deformation enables the soft spike 60 to engage the nibs 52 andconcurrently contact the flat surface 50.

[0026] The description of the invention is merely exemplary in natureand, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the inventionare intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variationsare not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A non-skid floor mat for use in a golf car toenable traction with one of a hard spike and a soft spike of a golfshoe, comprising: a sheet of elastomeric material; and a section havinga plurality of nibs protruding from said sheet, said nibs beingsufficiently spaced from one another to enable one of direct contact ofthe hard spike with said sheet and contact of the soft spike with bothsaid nibs and said sheet.
 2. The non-skid floor mat of claim 1, whereinsaid nibs have a height of less than or equal to 0.19 inches.
 3. Thenon-skid floor mat of claim 1, wherein said nibs are offset from oneanother by a center to center distance of at least 0.5 inches.
 4. Thenon-skid floor mat of claim 3, wherein said nibs are offset from oneanother by a center to center distance of less than 0.8 inches.
 5. Thenon-skid floor mat of claim 1, wherein said nibs have a height of atleast 0.12 inches.
 6. The non-skid floor mat of claim 1, furthercomprising a surface disposed between each of said plurality of nibs. 7.The non-skid floor mat of claim 6, wherein said surface is textured. 8.The non-skid floor mat of claim 1, further comprising a brake pedalaperture and an accelerator pedal aperture.
 9. The non-skid floor mat ofclaim 1, further comprising a steering wheel aperture.
 10. A golf car,comprising: a floor; a non-skid floor mat lain atop said floor, saidnon-skid floor mat including: a sheet of elastomeric material; and aplurality of nibs protruding from said sheet, said nibs beingsufficiently spaced from one another to enable one of direct contact ofthe hard spike with said sheet and contact of the soft spike with bothsaid nibs and said sheet.
 11. The golf car of claim 10, wherein saidnibs have a height of less than or equal to 0.19 inches.
 12. The golfcar of claim 10, wherein said nibs are offset from one another by acenter to center distance of at least 0.5 inches.
 13. The golf car ofclaim 10, wherein said polymeric material is an elastomer.
 14. The golfcar of claim 10, wherein said nibs have a height of at least 0.12inches.
 15. The golf car of claim 10, further comprising a surfacedisposed between each of said plurality of nibs.
 16. The golf car ofclaim 15, wherein said surface is textured.
 17. The golf car of claim10, further comprising a brake pedal aperture and an accelerator pedalaperture.
 18. The golf car of claim 10, further comprising a steeringwheel aperture.
 19. A non-skid floor mat for use in a golf car to enabletraction with one of a hard spike and a soft spike of a golf shoe,comprising: a sheet having a first section and a second section; and aplurality of nibs protruding from said second section of said sheet,said nibs being sufficiently spaced from one another to enable one ofdirect contact of the hard spike with said sheet and contact of the softspike with both said nibs and said sheet.
 20. The non-skid floor mat ofclaim 19, wherein said first section includes a textured surface. 21.The non-skid floor mat of claim 19, wherein said second section includesa textured surface between each of said plurality of nibs.
 22. Thenon-skid floor mat of claim 19, wherein said nibs have a height of lessthan or equal to 0.19 inches.
 23. The non-skid floor mat of claim 19,wherein said nibs are offset from one another by a center to centerdistance of at least 0.5 inches.
 24. The non-skid floor mat of claim 19,wherein said sheet is comprised of a polymeric material.
 25. Thenon-skid floor mat of claim 24, wherein said polymeric material is anelastomer.
 26. The non-skid floor mat of claim 19, wherein said nibshave a height of at least 0.12 inches.
 27. The non-skid floor mat ofclaim 19, further comprising a brake pedal aperture and an acceleratorpedal aperture.
 28. The non-skid floor mat of claim 19, furthercomprising a steering wheel aperture.